When We Work Together, We Achieve More

Jim and Maxi the Taxi Dog take Esmerelda, a street juggler, to her usual spot to perform. When they get there, another juggler is already performing and the two jugglers begin to argue over who is the better juggler! Maxi meets the Jugglers teaches that when we work and play together, we can learn from each other and achieve more.

Confidence in Yourself Can Overcome Fear of the Unknown

Jim and Maxi the Taxi Dog take Adam to his first gym class. Adam is nervous about taking the class and worries that the coach may expect too much. Maxi goes to the class with Adam and they both discover how much fun trying new things can be. Maxi Goes for the Gold teaches that confidence in yourself can lessen the fear of the unknown.

We Have the Power to Control Our Own Actions

Jim and Maxi the Taxi Dog take Danny, a chef, on a very special delivery. Before they reach their destination, Danny eats some of his special creation and they have to turn around and go back to Danny’s shop. Jim suggests Maxi help Danny re-fill the order and show Danny what it means to resist temptation. Maxi and the Three Berries teaches that we have the power to control our own actions.

Everyone is Afraid of Something

Maxi the Taxi Dog and Jim meet their first fare of the evening, Tupa, who is in a hurry to get to his night custodian job at the Museum. They quickly discover that Tupa has a problem: he’s afraid of the dark!Maxi jumps to the rescue and decides to sneak into the museum with Tupa to help him overcome his fear.

About The Taxi Dog Educational Program

Taxi Dog Educational Program focuses on promoting social and emotional competence, resiliency, and school success in children during the early elementary school years (kindergarten through third grade). The concept of the program is to teach through captivating, humorous stories about Maxi the Taxi Dog and taxi driver, Jim. Maxi introduces children to the essential skills of social emotional learning (SEL) through Maxi and Jim’s interactions with the many characters they encounter on their taxicab journeys in The Big City.

About Peek-A-Boo Publishing Group | Our Mission

Peek-A-Boo Publishing Group is an exciting new approach to quality children’s literature. We curate our collection through an organic creative process, driven by authors. This process results in enduring tales that celebrate individuality and diversity.

About the Authors

Bill Kroyer

An Oscar®-nominated director of animation and computer graphics, Bill pioneered the technique of combining hand-drawn animation with computer animation. Co-Chair of the Science and Technology Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and a Governor of the Academy’s Short Films and Feature Animation Branch, Bill is director of the Digital Arts Program at Chapman University in California. An educator himself, he teaches his unique animation techniques to students around the world. Bill is the lead creative consultant on the entertainment components within the Taxi Dog Program and works closely with the writing and production teams.

Thomas Minton

Tom Minton is a Peabody Award-winning, multiple Emmy nominee animation writer, story editor, producer and storyboard artist. His credits include “Baby Looney Tunes,” “Steven Spielberg presents Animaniacs,” “Tiny Toon Adventures,” “Disney’s Darkwing Duck,” “Disney’s Phineas and Ferb” and the Hub’s “Littlest Pet Shop.” Tom has over three decades of Los Angeles based television animation industry production experience and is the father of three grown children.

Aaron Mendelsohn

Aaron has been a working screenwriter for over 20 years. He has written for film, television and digital media and is best known for co-creating the AIR BUD movie franchise, which, to date, has sired eleven sequels. In addition to Taxi Dog, Aaron is developing family television projects for the Cartoon Network and Hasbro Studios, and he recently completely his fourth term on the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America West.

About the Illustrator

Todd Dakins

Todd Dakins is an award-winning children’s book illustrator who lives in Nashotah, Wisconsin. His published credits include Good Morning, Good Night Billy & Abigail (Billy and Abigail Board Books), A Counting Book with Billy & Abigail, A Very Special Snowflake, Sparky the Fire Dog and Bobbie and Minnie — We Can Do Anything.